BRADENTON, Fla. – Maikel's Franco locker was empty by 8 a.m. Saturday, before reporters entered the Phillies clubhouse. Franco, along with Sean O'Sullivan and Clete Thomas, was re-assigned to minor league camp.

The move ends a solid showing for the 21-year-old Franco, who before this spring had yet to play anything above Double-A ball, where he only played half the season last year. With Franco's departure, the Phillies' starting third-base job belongs to Cody Asche.

"Uh, yeah," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said when asked if the competition was over. "Well, I think it's a combination of two things. Franco goes and gets seasoning and gets at-bats and works on things. Now Cody plays in these games and gets ready for the start of the season and then we go from there."

Asche continued his red-hot stretch Saturday with a home run and a single in the Phillies' 5-3 loss to the Pirates. Since starting 0 for 13 this spring, Asche has hit .280, with three home runs and six RBIs.

"I had to work through that for a little bit, and I have been pretty happy with my last five to seven games with the at-bats I have had," Asche said. "Obviously you can get better."

It's been a quick rise for Asche, who made his major league debut July 30 and played in 50 games last season, starting 44 of those at third. Compared to Franco, he seems like a seasoned veteran.

"I think those last games were big for him last year," Sandberg said. "I've seen him where, with playing time, and at-bats and reps ... I think he settles in and gains from that. So I think that'll go a long way with these games and at-bats that he'll get and hopefully get off to a good start."

Asche hit .235 with five homers and 22 RBIs in the majors last season.

Homers abound

The score might not inspire much confidence in the Phillies' struggling offense, but the long ball provided a few positives in Saturday's loss to Pittsburgh.

Asche, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins all went yard Saturday. It was the second home run of the spring for Rollins and Howard, and Asche's third. The Phillies also tallied 11 hits in the loss.

"We swung the bats well today. We had 11 hits, stranded some runners, but overall it was a good game," Sandberg said. "It's good to see some home runs hit and better contact overall in the first six or seven innings. It was a better-played game at the plate for us."

Entering Saturday, the Phillies had 82 runs this spring, good for last in the majors. The Phillies are hitting .227 this spring.

Burnett erratic

A.J. Burnett lacked control in his fourth start of camp, walking six batters in five innings while giving up two runs Saturday. He also struck out two hitters.

Once again, Burnett's curveball was an issue. But the veteran doesn't seem worried.

"The hook is inconsistent right now, but that always comes," Burnett said. "The more I throw it, the more I get out there, I'm going to find that release point."

Though the pitching schedule has not been announced, Burnett is likely to pitch Friday night in the Phillies' first game of the on-deck series at Citizens Bank Park. The team is set to return home Thursday night and faces Pittsburgh at 7:05 Friday.

"I'm interested to see what it's like. We don't even know where I'm living yet, so I might want to find a place before we leave. I know one thing – we leave for Philly, that's when it starts," Burnett said.